Carbon remover



June 11, 1940; J. H. MINOR CARBON REMOVER Filed Jan. 5, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l vllw lllllll, .IIIWY June 11, 1940. J. H. MINOR CARBON REMOVE}?- Filed Jan. 5, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 11 1940 PATENT OFFICE CARBON R MOVE Josephli. Minor, University City, Mo,, assignor of.

one half to Wayne K. Bromley, St; Louis, Mo."

, Application January 3, 1938, Serial No; 183L017. 6 Claims. (ol ze zs This invention relates to carbon removers, and hasxspecial reference to devices for removing carbon, etc;, from smoke andproducts of combustion passing from a furnace to a flue' for discharge to atmosphere. l r

' An objectofthe invention is to provide a conbustion and; retaining the carbon particles while the lighter smoke or the like is discharged through and from the flue.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus or mechanism that may be, constructed and assembled within the limits of permissible cost, for detaching objectionable carbon particles or the like from thevolatile products of combustion, and retaining the same so that, when the lighter products of combustion are dischargedfroin the flue or chimney, a comparatively small or minimum amount of objectionable carbon particles are carried therewith. -0ther objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description, ref erence being made to the annexed drawings, in

which.-, l l

Fig. 1 is aview partly in vertical section illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Ming. 2 is a combined plan and horizontal sectlonal view of the same embodiment of the inventionithat is illustrated in Fig. 1. M

H Figwtiis a vertical cross-sectional view onthe line 3+3 of Fig. 1.

, In the embodiment of the invention shown, the flue or pipe I opens from the furnace 2 and constitutes an outlet or conduit for the lighter and volatile products of combustion. This flue or pipe I has a branch 3 opening into a flue or pipe 4 leading directlvto anddischarging into afiue, or chimneyithat opens to the outside for the discharge oi smoke and entrained substances in, theusual manner. p

,Adamper or valve device 6 controlled by a manually operated connection 1 is movable to and from position tojopen and to close communication from the branch3 into the flue orpipe 4. Thus, when the damper or valve device 6 is open,

frames 22.

the smoke and other lighter products of combustion can pass directly from the furnace throughthpipe l and the branch 3 into the pipe 4 and thenceinto and through the pipe 5 for discharge into the outer atmosphere, as usual. As shown, the branch 3 opens upwardly into the upper side of the pipe 4. A pipe 8 extends in continuation of the pipe l beyond the branch 3 and opens into a housing 9 which is provided with a removable and replaceable lid or cover Id having on its inner side a packing or sealing lining ii to prevent escape or leakage of the smoke and fumes, etc., from the housing, 9. The housing 9 has therein partition i2 extending from the rear wall l3 of said housing and from the lid lining l'l downwardly a considerable distance to provide apassage I l.

The partition ll also provides a passage it between the outer end of said partition and the outerywall l6 of the housing 9. The partition l2 cooperates with a wallof the housing 9 to provide a space i8 through which a shaft Hi extends longitudinally. The shaft I9 is journalled in bearings 20 supported by the end walls It and iii of the housing 9. A cylinder 2'! is attached to the shaft I9 within the space H! by means of open A series of segmental marine propeller blades 23 are attached to the rotary shaft it within the cylinder 2| for simultaneous rotation with said cylinder by the shaft 9. The number of these propeller blades may be varied as desired. l u

From-the inner end of the housing 9, a pipe 24 opens, said pipe constituting merely an extension of the pipe 4: Two series of baflles 25 and 26 extend across the space 18 below the opening from said space into the, pipe 24.

An electric or other type of motor 21 mounted ona shelf 28 is operative to rotate the shaft l9 by a driving connection29 from the motor shaft 3%] to a pulley ill' attached to said shaft l9. As showh,theshaft l9 has thereon a pulley 32 connected by a belt 33 with a pulley 34 attached to the outer end of a shaft 35 rotatively supported by the wall IBandxextending into the passage 14. Aifan or propeller 36 is. attached to the shaft As clearly shown inFig. lithe lower portion of the cylinder 2i is immersed insaid liquid and the lower edges of all of the propeller blades 23 will.

operate through the upper portion of the liquid which fills the lower portion of said cylinder 2|.

The cylinder 2! is formed with a series of elongated oblique slots 38, ,thei'ear" edges 39bit said slots being inclined outwardly and the inner edges 40 of said slots beinginclined inwardly (Fig. 3). Thus, when the cylinder 2! is rotated rapidly in a clockwise direction, as indicated by the arrows 4i (Fig. 3) the outwardly, inclined walls, or flanges ,39 of the slots ;38 will scoop? a considerable amount of the liquid; into the cylinder 2| and raise the level of, the liquid in said cylinder considerably above the level of the liquid outside of the cylinder. The propellerblades 23 perform the double function of impelling the flow of the products of combustion through the cylinder and of agitatingthe liquid within the cylinder so that allof the products of combustion passing through said cylinder is subjectd to the washing action of, the liquid. Preferably, a liquid is used. that will attach itself to thesoot and carbon particles entrained with the flowing products of combustion, and therebydetach, separate and remove said soot and carbon particles from the gases and fumes and other volatile products of combustion. Thesesofotand carbon particles being saturatedbythis fluid, will be restantial amount of ,liquidinto the pipe 24, and.

also cooperate with the device 23to effect a settling of the, soot and carbon particles into the body of liquid 31. i

This device has beenused and operated with a high degree of satisfaction ain detaching and removing soot and carbon particles from the products of combustion of bituminous-,fuel coal' and the like, with ,the result thatthe products of combustion discharged from the chimney or flue 5 are of light color and are substantially free. from soot and carbon particles that'would otherwise be discharged therewith. The device may be assembled in connection with many or all standard types of furnaces at economical and permissible cost and, therefore, meets a compelling and existing need and requirement in communities in which it is necessary to use bituminous coal and the like as fuel.. l c

When it is desired to operate the furnace to pass the smoke,.etc. directly from the pipe I into and through the pipe 4 and the chimney or flue 5, it is only necessary to stop the motor-21, and thereby the fan ,or propeller 36 and the. device comprising the-blades .23, and to open the damper or valve 6. The suction through the chimney .or flue 5 and the pipe 4 will draw thezproductsof combustion from :the pipe I through the branch pipe 3, thence into and through'the pipe 4 and.

charged with a new or additional supply of fuel. But the damper or valve 6 should be closed and the device for removing carbon and soot should be operated during the time that the furnace is being charged with coal and for an appropriate time thereafter.

I am aware that the invention may be varied as widely as equivalent limits will permit without departure from the nature and principle thereof.

Without restricting myself unessentially, I claim: 1. In a device of the character described, a

housing adapted to contain a body of liquid that will saturate soot and carbon particles usually discharged from a coal burning furnace and having inlet and outlet openings near one end, a partition in said housing extending downwardly below the normal level of the liquid therein between said openings and dividing said housing into two laterally disposed spaces communicating with said openings respectively and also communicating with eachother at the. end of the housing beyond said openings, a shaft extending longitudinally into the-space that communicates with said outlet opening, :a cylinder attached to said shaft for rotation thereby in said last named space and having an ,open end toward said outlet opening, means in connection with said cylinder for directing liquid into the, cylinder during rotation thereof, and devices attached to said. shaft within said housing forsaturating and removing and separating soot and carbon particles from the remaining lighter products of combustion passing through said cylinder.

2. In a device of the character described, a housing adapted to contain a body of liquid to saturate soot and carbon particles entrained with the products of combustion passing from a furnace and having inlet and outlet openings, a partition extending downwardly below the normal level of the liquid anddividing the inside of said housing into two side by side spaces communicating with said openings respectively and also communicating with each other, a shaft extending into the'space that communicates with said outlet opening, a cylinder attached to said shaft in said last. named space, means for rotating said shaft and said cylinder, means in connection with said cylinder for raising the .level of the liquid in the cylinderabove the level ofthe liquid outside of the cylinder when said cylinder is rotated, and devices attached to said shaft within said cylinder. for saturating and removing and separating soot and carbon particles from the remaining lighter products of combustion during rotation of said cylinder and said devices.

3. In a device of the character described, a housing. adapted. to contain a body of :liquid to saturate soot and carbon particlesentrained with products of combustion and having an outlet opening, a shaft extending into said housing, a cylinder attached to said shaft and having slots in the wall thereof and also having open ends one of which. is. toward said outlet opening, propeller devices attached to said shaft within said cylinder for agitating said liquid and products of combustion and saturating andremoving and separating soot and-carbon particles from the remaining lighter products of combustion, in-

clined scoop devices at'the sides of said slots beproducts of combustion and having an outlet opening, an approximately horizontal rotary shaft extending into said housing at a distance from said outlet opening, a cylinder attached to said shaft and extending below the normal level of the liquid in said housing and having elonsaid liquid and the products of combustion and causing the liquid to remove and separate soot and carbon particles from the remaining lighter X products of combustion, outwardly extended por-- tions at the sides of said slots for positively di-- f recting liquid through said slots into said cylinder when said cylinder is rotated, and mechanism for rotating said cylinder and said devices.

5. In a device of the character described, a

housing having an inlet opening and also having an outlet opening and adapted to contain a body ;of liquid to saturate soot and carbon particles carried by products of combustion passing through said housing toward said outlet opening,

combustion, outwardly extended portions in con: nection with said cylinder at the sides of said slots for positively directing liquid into saidcylinder whensaid cylinder is rotated,1means in said housing forming an angular passage from said inlet opening to said cylinder, a device in said passage for accelerating the movementoi products of combustion therethrough toward said cylinder, and mechanism, for simultaneously rotating said cylinder and said agitating devices the passage of the products of combustion therethrough toward said outlet opening and having its lower portion arranged to extend into the liquid contained in said housing, devices within said cylinder for agitating said liquid and the products of combustion and causing the liquid to remove and separate soot and carbon particles from the remaining lighter products of combustion passing through said cylinder toward said outlet opening, mechanism for simultaneously rotating said cylinder and said devices, and inclined flanges in connection with said cylinder at the, sides of said liquid inlet openings positively pre-! venting centrifugal force from lowering the liquid within the cylinder below the level of the liquid outside of the cylinder within said housing when said cylindertis rotated.

JOSEPH H. MINOR 

